By Justin Flynn
Newtown & Chilwell will resume this week at 7/149 against East Belmont in a rain-affected Geelong Cricket Association day one of round seven.
It could have been a disaster for the Two Blues if not for a dogged rearguard partnership between Noah Guida and Archie Bain, which skipper Dylan Hodge described as a potential game saver.
Despite the rain on Friday, Hodge said the pitch at Winter Reserve was decent if a little slow.
“It was quite a good deck, but it was hard to get your timing right,” he said.
“It didn’t do anything ridiculous, but it kept a little bit lower and it (the ball) kind of got stuck in the wicket a bit. We had three guys playing shots off the back foot who were caught in front of the wicket.”
Last round century makers Pat and Ronnie McKenna both fell cheaply as East Belmont quick Dylan Moroney (4/29) ripped through the top order.
Tom Meredith played well for 45 off 76 balls and Hodge made 27 from 53.
“It was just one of those days we just continually lost wickets,” Hodge said.
“But I think we’ve rounded out pretty well. We could have easily got rolled for 135 and they could have been one for 40.”
East Belmont spinners James McMahon (1/13 from 10 overs) and Josh Lacey (0/43 from 20) also made scoring difficult for the Two Blues.
Guida and Bain then batted out the remainder of the day before the rain arrived, ending play after 59 overs.
Guida resumes on 19 from 91 deliveries and Bain seven from 45. Hodge said both are more than capable with the bat.
“They both battled in the top four for their school and APS ones and have played a lot of representative cricket, so by all means can hold a stick,” Hodge said.
“I said ‘go out and enjoy it. Don’t worry about scoring for now’. Both boys have given themselves a chance to come back next week when the conditions might be better. They might be able to go and score and capitalise.”
Hodge said the East Belmont attack was “relentless”, which made his side’s position even more credible.
“They’re just all pretty relentless and the way they go about it,” he said.
“Their fields are good and they’re smart and well captained.”
NORTH GEELONG has already taken first innings points against St Joseph’s. Seamer Bradley Apps took 5/13 and quick Tom Webster 4/24 as Joeys were in the sheds for just 55. Sam Hall then whacked a 17-ball 30 for North Geelong, which was 6/114 at stumps.
SOUTH BARWON will resume on 6/179 against Highton after Nat Pearson dug in with a well crafted 49 from 127 deliveries. Sam Ellis is still there on 67 from 90 and looms as the dangerman. Lara skipper and consistent seamer Nathan McCoach was superb with 5/43.
GROVEDALE is 6/152 against Lara and will have 28 overs at its disposal this week before taking to the field. Josh Windus made it to 43 from 52 balls to go with a handy 34 from 47 from opener Rob Smith. Promising tweaker Jaymee Guy took 3/20 from 13 tidy overs for Lara.
